Bluebell House’s ‘dogs welcome’ policy is a boon for homeowners and their pets
Sue and Barbara would never have moved to Bluebell House, a Retirement Living PLUS community in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, if their precious pups, Cody and Frisby had not been made welcome.
“After my husband passed away, I adopted Cody who provided me with so much comfort during the difficult months that followed,” shares Sue (pictured above). “Bernard and I had been married for 30 years and spent a lot of our retirement travelling and going on holiday together. I felt as if I’d lost a part of myself when he died.”
Like many canine companions, six-year-old Cavapoo, Cody, who was given his name by Sue’s then 10-year-old grandson, helped her overcome an overwhelming feeling of loneliness and loss. She says, “Cody was just a puppy when I adopted him. He brought light back into my life and I no longer felt so alone.”
And she’s not the only one. According to one study, 85% of adults agree that interaction with pets reduces loneliness, with other benefits of pet ownership including providing better coping strategies for stress, promoting greater empathy and compassion, and increasing social connections. Find out if dog ownership is right for you in retirement.
Sue adds, “It’s lovely that we’re able to have pets here. When I first visited Bluebell House, the first question I asked was whether I could bring Cody. It’s nice to be part of a community which shares my love of animals. Funnily enough, we even have two cats that regularly visit– they’ve essentially claimed this as their second home.”
Also making the most of pet-firendly retirement living is Barbara [Pictured above] and her five-year-old Bichon Frisé, Frisby.
“Frisby has been part of the family for three years now. She’d been through the wringer, having been rescued from a house fire, along with another dog and three cats, after which she ended up in kennels for three weeks. She was traumatised. It was then that we adopted her and gave her a new home,” tells Barbara. “She’s always loved being around people. In fact, before we moved to Bluebell House, she loved to just lay in bed with my late husband, Joe.”
Frisby and Cody are part of the family at Bluebell House
Often Frisby and Cody can be found pottering about the development, enjoying affection from the other homeowners.
Sue says: “We regularly come down to the communal lounge for our morning coffee with the dogs in tow. We needn’t ever worry about them, as they tend to take themselves off to enjoy fuss off all the other homeowners. It’s the same whenever we join the monthly quiz and games nights —in fact, when he’s not with me, Cody tends to sit with another homeowner just for the benefit of extra cuddles. The neighbours are very fond of Frisby and Cody, they treat them as part of the family.”
“The dogs have never had it so good,” Barbara chuckles. “When I lived on my own, I wasn’t able to get out very often, which meant Frisby wasn’t able to meet many other people. The dogs are living a life of luxury. They’re absolutely spoilt by everyone, from the homeowners and the staff to visitors and friends.” Read our pet policy.
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